Brake-beam reversible fulcrum



' ET D 7 T WILLIAM c. HEnecocK. orcinczieo, rrnmorsrAssrsnoaro eems we, FOUNDRIES, or. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .e oonronetrionor NEW JEnsE rL 5 1 BRAKEBEAM REVERSIBLE i uriciwivr.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

' 1 Application filed June 10, 1921.; SerialNo. 476,382.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. Hnncco oir,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in a Brake-Beam Beversible Fulcrum, of which the following is a specification. v j

This invention relates to brake beams and more particularly to reversible fulcrums therefor and the connection between said'reversible fulcrum and the compression'mem ber'of such brakebeams' a 1 n One object of the invention is to provide a simpleand eflicient meansforitightly connecting the fulcrum to the compression member in a manner to prevent lost mot ion but leaving the fulcrumfree to be rotated from right to left hand or vice-versa without any 1 means for positively locking the-fulcrum in either of its positions. i a

' Another object is to provide agsimple and efficient connect-ion between-a reversiblefulcrum and acompress'ion member'o'fv-a brake 25 beam in a manner'to meet the various requirements for successful oomm'ercialvuset These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings, ,inwhich Figure 1 is a top plan'view of a'trussed type of brake lbeam embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation showing the compression member in section; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 44 of Figure 3.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the-figures of the drawings, it will be noted that I have disclosed my invention in connection with a trussed type of brake beam including a compression member 10, a tension member 11 and a fulcrum 12. The fulcrum 12 is of the reversible type and is provided with a banded portion 13 for surrounding or embracing the compression member 10. The rear wall 14 of the banded portion 13 is provided with a pro- 'ection 15 which extends into an opening 16 in the rear wall 17 of the compression member whereby the may be d I Patented Apr.

versed from itsrighthandposition to its left hand position and vice-versa', fin a" guided manner. The reversing movements of the fulcrum arellimited by the Vl-shap'ed wall portions 18 which 1701111124; part of the banded portion 13 of the fulcrumgit: being understood that corresponding-walls engage 7 It isdesired to --connect the fulcrum the upper and lower flanges :19ranjd 20 ofithe I i 12 to the compression membervlOsina manner to take vup alllost motion andat the same time to permitthefulcrumtozbe .reversed without providing any 1ocking1means for locking the fulcrum in its :.different.-zpositions, 5 thereby eliminatingtheinecessity .of

removingv any locking means before the'efulfcrumcan be reversed. vTo this end the rearend i of the fulcrum is provided withca pro- ]GCtlQH 21 which extends rearwardly "from the maln post portion ofvthe fulcrum and towardthe rear wall 14 ofthefulcrum band.

Thisprojection has va fiat'bearing portion A 22 and twosurface portions =28 and 24nincllnedfromthe bearing portion:22.;;- 'Forsez- V curing tlieqfulcrum tothecompressioninember, agwedge 25 is provided which wedge has an. inclined surface '26 whichzs'lidesover either one of the inclined surfaces 23' 01124 of the projection 21, depending vupon the direction in which theiwedge is driven. This wedge also has a flat bearing portion 27 which'bears against the flat bearing portion i -22 of the projection 21' when the wedge is s I in its normal securing position, at which time the rear wall 14 of the band 13 is pressedtightly against the rear wall 17 of the com-'- pression member and the projection 21' and.

the inside surfaceof the'rear wall-17 of the band are pressed tightly intoengagement with the wedge member 25 At this 2 time the lip 28 of the wedge member engages I the circular surface of therannularprojection 21 and the tongue 29 of the'wed'ge may be bent over into engagement with the circular surface of theprojection 21 for bold ing the wedge in its securing position; By means of this arrangement the parts are firmly secured together and yet, at the same time, the fulcrum may be reversed without the removal of the wedge or any other securing or lockin means. 1

It will be understood that the fingersBO at the front end of the fulcrum member 12, between which the tension rod 1 1 is received, are shaped a manner to permit the fulcrum to be reversed.

It is my intention to cover allmodifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I "claim":

1. In a brake beam, the combination of a compression member, a fulcrum having a banded portion embracing said compression member and also having a projection extending toward one Wall of said compression member, and means insertable between said projection and compression member for securing the parts together and yet permitting the fulcrum to be reversed Without changing securing conditions.

2. In a brake beam, the combination of a compression member, a fulcrum having a banded portion embracing said compression member, and means iiisertable between said compression memberand fulcrunifor securing the p-arts together and yet permitting the fulcrum to be reversed without changing securing conditions; 7 I

3. In abrake beam, the'combination of a compression, member, a fulcrum having a 'portion embracing said compression member, and means insertablebetween said com- -pressionmember and fulcrum for securing the parts together and yet permitting the fulcrum to have its operative position changed Without changing securing conditions. I

4. In a brake beam, the combination of a compression-member, a fulcrum having a portion embracing said. compression-member, and a wedge 'insertable between said compression member and fulcrum for securing the parts together and yet permitting changed without the fulcrum to have its operative position changing securing conditlOIISQ 5. In a brake beam, the jcombination of a compression member,,a fulcrum having a portion embracing said compression memher and having a pivotal connection therewith, and means insertable etween said compression member and fulcrum for securing the parts together and yet permitting the fulcrum having a pivotal movement with respect to said'compressio'n member without changing securing conditions.

6. In a brake beam, the combination of a compression member, a fulcrum having a I and compression member for securingtlie, parts together and yet permitting the fulcrum to be reversed without changingsecuring conditions, said'fulcrum and its projection, compression member and wedge having interlocked portions for preventing disarrangement of the parts;

Signed "at Chicago, Illinois, this 6th day of June, 1921.

WILLIAM c; HEDGCOC-K. 

